Sitting furniture

ABSTRACT

A piece of sitting furniture with back rest and seat members has two lateral frame bars which extend each along one side edge of the seat member and are bent from the front end of the seat member first downwardly and then rearwardly and upwardly so as to form front legs which in side elevation are of U-shape and the rear U-limbs of which are extended in an upward direction past the seat member and bent rearwardly so as to form an arm rest portion.

United States Patent 2 Persson et al.

[ SITTING FURNITURE [75] lnventors: Eric Sigfrid Persson, Horby; Signe Harriet Persson-Melin, Malmo, both of Sweden [73] Assignee: Expo Nord, AB, l-Iorby, Sweden [22] Filed: Nov. 30, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 203,321

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 11, 1971 Sweden 1706/71 [52] U.S. Cl. 297/445, 297/457 [51] Int. Cl A47c 5/00, A47c 11/00 [58] Field of Search 297/287, 441, 445,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,215,540 9/1940 Brewer 297/287 1 July 31,1973

3,601,446 8/1971 Persson et al 297/457 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,502,261 10/1931 Switzerland 297/441 Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Attorney-John Lezdey et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A piece of sitting furniture with back rest and seat members has two lateral frame bars which extend each along one side edge of the seat member and are bent from the front end of the seat member first downwardly and then rearwardly and upwardly so as to form front legs which in side elevation are of U-shape and the rear U-limbs of which are extended in an upward direction past the seat member and bent rearwardly so as to form an arm rest portion.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENIEBJULSI ma SHEET 2 BF 3 SITTING FURNITURE This invention relates to a piece of sitting furniture having back rest and seat members, front and rear legs, and two lateral frame bars which have seat portions extending each along one side edge of the seat member and merging at the front end of said seat member integrally in bar portions so as to form the front legs of the piece of furniture. Characteristic of the invention is that said bar portions are bent from the front end of the seat member first downwardly and then rearwardly and upwardly so as to form front legs which in side elevation are of U-shape and the rear U-limb of which is extended in an upward direction past the seat member and bent rearwardly so as to form an arm rest portion.

The present invention provides a simpler and cheaper construction of the front legs and arm rests of the sitting furniture as compared to prior art designs in which at least the arm rests have to be made as separate details which have to be fastened to the furniture frame. The invention also offers the possibility of further simplifying the furniture and making it still more inexpensive in that the lateral frame bars are designed so as also to constitute the furniture rear legs in such a way that the lateral frame bars constitute two unitary lateral frame elements which carry the back rest member and seat member.

The invention will be more fully described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings which diagrammatically illustrate some embodiments of the sitting furniture. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a piece of sitting furniture according to the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross sections of two embodiments of the seat or back rest member of the piece of fumiture; and

FIGS. 4 to 6 are side views of further embodiments of the piece of furniture.

The piece of sitting furniture illustrated in FIG. I has a back rest member 1 and a seat member 2 as well as front legs 3 and rear legs 4. The piece of furniture has a supporting rigging of bars including two lateral frame bars 5 which extend along the side edges of the back rest member 1 and the seat member 2 and are bent between these members downwardly in U-shape so as to form the rear legs 4. From the front end of the seat member 2 the lateral frame bars 5 are bent first downwardly and then rearwardly and upwardly so as to form front legs 3 which in side elevation are of U-shape and the rear U-limb of which is extended in an upward direction past and outside the seat member 2 and is bent rearwardly so as to form an arm rest portion 6 the rear end of which is connected to the back rest member portion of the lateral frame bars 5.

The two lateral frame bars 5 thus bent carry between them a body-supporting material 23 at least within the regions of the back rest member 1 and the seat member 2. If the body-supporting material 23 is rigid, for example is of wood or rigid plastics material with or without upholstery, it can constitute the only connection between the two lateral frame bars. However it is often advantageous to make the body-supporting material 23 from a flexible web or cloth and in such a case the two lateral frame bars 5 must be interconnected at several points, preferably within the region of the back rest member and the seat member.

An advantageous embodiment of the last mentioned kind is illustrated in FIG. 2. It will be seen from this F igure that the lateral frame bars 5 can be made of metal and each contain two longitudinal channels 8 and 9. The channel 9 is in communication with the atmosphere though a constricted lateral mouth or slot 10 extending throughout the length of the bar. The channel 9 having the slot 10 serves for the fixation of the bodysupporting material to the frame bars 5. In the embodiment chosen by way of example the body-supporting material is a web 1 l of cloth or plastics material and an upholstery 12 of some suitable design secured to one side of the web. The portions of the web 11 projecting from the lateral margins of the upholstery 12 are folded and sewn to form a hem in which is inserted a wire or rope 13 for forming a bead. The two beads of the web 1 l are passed from one end of the frame bars 5 into the channels 9 thereof, and these beads are of sufficiently large cross section to prevent being withdrawn from the slots 10. In the two facing walls of the lateral frame bars 5 holes are bored at spaced points into the channel 8 of the bars. The ends of the aforesaid cross bars 7 are inserted into said holes. Each cross bar consists of a centrally arranged guide tube 14 in'the ends of which are inserted threaded end pins 15 to which are screwed nuts 16 engaging the ends of the tube 14. The pins 15 are inserted through said holes in the bars 5 and by rotation of the nuts 16 the ends of the pins can be tensioned against the intermediate wall of the bars 5 between the channels 8 and 9 and move apart the frame bars 5 while stretching the web 11 between the frame bars which are kept together I only by the bodysupporting material which urges the frame bars against the cross bars.

FIG. 3 shows a modification of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2. Here the frame bars 5A are tubular and have registering holes for the insertion of cross bars 7 of the configuration described inconjunction with FIG. 2. The body-supporting material here is a tubing 17 of cloth or plastics material which is passed onto the frame bars 5A. A suitable upholstery I2 is secured to one outer face of the tubing between the frame bars 5A. P

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment having two lateral frame bars 5. Each bar extends from the upper edge of a back rest member 1 in a downward direction along said member and is bent in a forward direction at the lower end of said back rest member so as to form a seat member 2. At the front end of the seat member the frame bar is bent downwardly and then upwardly so as to form a front leg 3 which in sideelevation is of-U- shape. That limb of the U which does not merge in the seat member portion of the frame bar extends on the outer side in an upward direction past the seat member portion of the frame bar and is bent rearwardly above said portion so as to form an arm rest portion 18 which has its rear end bent downwardly so as to form a rear leg 19 of the piece of sitting furniture. A bodysupporting material is stretched between the back rest member and seat member portions of the frame bars in a manner described in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 shows a modification of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4. Here that portion of each lateral frame bar 5 which forms the arm rest portion 20 extends from the front leg means 3 above the seat member 2 rearwardly to the back rest member where the arm rest portion terminates and is secured to the back rest member portion of the lateral frame bar 5. Each lateral frame bar 5 extends from the upper end of the back rest member l downwardly so as to form rear legs 21 of the piece of sitting furniture.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment which resembles that illustrated in H6. 4 except that the frame bar 5 is bent from the rear end of the arm rest portion 18 first downwardly and then upwardly again so as to form a rear leg 22 which in side elevation is of U-shape and of which that limb which is not connected to the arm rest member 18 extends in an upward direction towards the seat member portion 2 of the frame bar and is preferably connected thereto.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A piece of sitting furniture, comprising a back rest member, a seat member, two front legs and two rear legs supporting said back rest and seat members, two lateral frame bars, seat portions of said frame bars ex tending each along one side edge of said seat member, front leg portions of said frame bars integrally extending from the front ends of said seat portions of said frame bars first downwardly and then rearwardly and upwardly so as to form said front legs which in side elevation are of U-shape, and arm rest portions of said frame bars integrally extending from the rear U-limb of said U-shaped front leg portions of said frame bars in an upward direction past said seat portions of said frame bars and bent rearwardly for forming arm rest members.

2. A piece of sitting furniture, comprising a back rest member, a seat member, two front legs and two rear legs supporting said back rest and seat members, two lateral frame bars, back rest portions of said frame bars extending each along one side edge of said back rest member, seat portions of said frame bars extending each along one side edge of said seat member, front leg portions of said frame bars integrally extending from the front ends of said seat portions of said frame bars first downwardly and then rearwardly and upwardly so as to form said front legs, which in side elevation are of U-shape, and arm rest portions of said frame bars integrally extending from the rear U-limb of said U-shaped front leg portions of said frame bars in an upward direction past said seat portions of said frame bars and bent rearwardly for forming arm rest members, the rear ends of said arm rest portions of said frame bars being connected to said back rest portions of said frame bars.

3. A piece of sitting furniture as claimed in claim 2, comprising U-shaped rear leg portions of said frame bars, the U-limbs of said U-shaped rear leg portions integrally merging in said back rest andseat portions of said frame bars.

4. A piece of sitting furniture as claimed in claim 2, comprising rear leg portions of said frame bars, integrally merging in the upper ends of said back rest portions of said frame bars.

5. A piece of sitting furniture as claimed in claim 2, comprising rear leg portions of said frame bars formed by downwardly bent extensions of the rear ends of said arm rest portions of said frame bars.

6. A piece of sitting furniture as claimed in claim 2, comprising U-shaped rear leg portions of said frame bars, one U-limb of each of said U-shaped rear leg portions merging integrally in the rear end of each one of said arm rest portions of said frame bars and the other U-limbs of said U-shaped rear leg portions being connected to said seat portions of said frame bars.

7. A piece of sitting furniture comprising a back rest member, a seat member, two front legs and two rear legs supporting said back rest and seat members, two lateral frame bars, back rest portions of said frame bars extending each along one side edge of said back rest member, seat portions of said frame bars extending each along one side edge of said seat member, front leg portions of said frame bars integrally extending from the front ends of said seat portions of said frame bars first downwardly and then rearwardly and upwardly so as to form said front legs, which in side elevation are of U-shape, arm rest portions of said frame bars integrally extending from the rear U-limb of said U-shaped front leg portions of said frame bars in an upward direction past said seat portion of said frame bars and bent rearwardly for forming arm rest members, the rear ends of said arm rest portions of said frame bars being connected to said back rest portions of said frame bars, cross bars extending between said lateral frame bars, and body-supporting flexible material extending between said lateral frame bars at least within the region of said back rest and seat portions of said frame bars and keeping said frame bars urged against said cross bars.

8. A piece of sitting furniture as claimed in claim 7, comprising means for adjusting the length of said cross bars.

9. A piece of sitting furniture as claimed in claim 7, comprising means on said lateral frame bars forming channels extending longitudinally of said frame bars and having constricted lateral mouths opening in a side face of said frame bars, and marginal beads of said body-supporting material anchore'd in the channels of said frame bars.

* Q, l I l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 749 444 Dated JulV 31 1973 Inventor(s) Eric Sigfrid Persson & Signe Harriet Persson-Melin It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Covering Page, Column 1, Item [30] under "Feb. 11, 1971 Sweden. .1706/71" please add --Feb. 26, 197]. Germany. .P 21 09 242.2

May 10, 1971 Great Britain. .l400l/7l--.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of December- 1973.

(SEAL) Atte at I EDWARD M. FLETCHER, JR. RENE D. TEGTMEYE'R: Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Patents 

1. A piece of sitting furniture, comprising a back rest member, a seat member, two front legs and two rear legs supporting said back rest and seat members, two lateral frame bars, seat portions of said frame bars extending each along one side edge of said seat member, front leg portions of said frame bars integrally extending from the front ends of said seat portions of said frame bars first downwardly and then rearwardly and upwardly so as to form said front legs which in side elevation are of U-shape, and arm rest portions of said frame bars integrally extending from the rear U-limb of said U-shaped front leg portions of said frame bars in an upward direction past said seat portions of said frame bars and bent rearwardly for forming arm rest members.
 2. A piece of sitting furniture, comprising a back rest member, a seat member, two front legs and two rear legs supporting said back rest and seat members, two lateral frame bars, back rest portions of said frame bars extending each along one side edge of said back rest member, seat portions of said frame bars extending each along one side edge of said seat member, front leg portions of said frame bars integrally extending from the front ends of said seat portions of said frame bars first downwardly and then rearwardly and upwardly so as to form said front legs, which in side elevation are of U-shape, and arm rest portions of said frame bars integrally extending from the rear U-limb of said U-shaped front leg portions of said frame bars in an upward direction past said seat portions of said frame bars and bent rearwardly for forming arm rest members, the rear ends of said arm rest portions of said frame bars being connected to said back rest portions of said frame bars.
 3. A piece of sitting furniture as claimed in claim 2, comprising U-shaped rear leg portions of said frame bars, the U-limbs of said U-shaped rear leg portions integrally merging in said back rest and seat portions of said frame bars.
 4. A piece of sitting furniture as claimed in claim 2, comprising rear leg portions of said frame bars, integrally merging in the upper ends of said back rest portions of said frame bars.
 5. A piece of sitting furniture as claimed in claim 2, comprising rear leg portions of said frame bars formed by downwardly bent extensions of the rear ends of said arm rest portions of said frame bars.
 6. A piece of sitting furniture as claimed in claim 2, comprising U-shaped rear leg portions of said frame bars, one U-limb of each of said U-shaped rear leg portions merging integrally in the rear end of each one of said arm rest portions of said frame bars and the other U-limbs of said U-shaped rear leg portions being connected to said seat portions of said frame bars.
 7. A piece of sitting furniture comprising a back rest member, a seat member, two front legs and two rear legs supporting said back rest and seat members, two lateral frame bars, back rest portions of said frame bars extending each along one side edge of said back rest member, seat portions of said frame bars extending each along one side edge of said seat member, front leg portions of said frame bars integrally extending from the front ends of said seat portions of said frame bars first downwardly and then rearwardly and upwardly so as to form said front legs, which in side elevation are of U-shape, arm rest portions of said frame bars integrally extending from the rear U-limb of sAid U-shaped front leg portions of said frame bars in an upward direction past said seat portion of said frame bars and bent rearwardly for forming arm rest members, the rear ends of said arm rest portions of said frame bars being connected to said back rest portions of said frame bars, cross bars extending between said lateral frame bars, and body-supporting flexible material extending between said lateral frame bars at least within the region of said back rest and seat portions of said frame bars and keeping said frame bars urged against said cross bars.
 8. A piece of sitting furniture as claimed in claim 7, comprising means for adjusting the length of said cross bars.
 9. A piece of sitting furniture as claimed in claim 7, comprising means on said lateral frame bars forming channels extending longitudinally of said frame bars and having constricted lateral mouths opening in a side face of said frame bars, and marginal beads of said body-supporting material anchored in the channels of said frame bars. 